President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts faced off in the second and penultimate presidential debate tonight from Hempstead, New York.
The 90-minute debate was moderated by CNN's chief political correspondent and State of the Union anchor Candy Crowley. She is the first woman to moderate a presidential debate since 1992 with Carole Simpson. Coincidentally, the first town hall debate was during the 1992 election season.
The debate was a town hall meeting format, where citizens have the opportunity to ask the candidates a question based on the theme selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD): domestic and foreign policy.
The citizens consist of 82 undecided voters from New York's Nassau County in Long Island, chosen by the Gallup Organization. By 8:30 p.m. EDT, the 82 members of the audience were given instructions on decorum and how the town hall debate will follow by the co-chairmen of the CPD.
The format is as follows: "Candidates each will have two minutes to respond [to the undecided voter's question], and an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion."
Timeline:
8:54 p.m. EDT: Moderator Candy Crowley enters the debate stage and talks to the 82 undecided voters.
9:01: Crowley introduces the debate format. She confirms she knows the questions ahead of time.
9:02: Crowley introduces the candidates. Both candidates take their seats while waving at the audience.
9:03: The first question goes to Romney by questioner Jeremy Epstein about ensuring college students support upon graduation.
9:03: Romney thanks the organizers for the event and Crowley. Romney mentions the scholarships, grants, and loans available for students and how he'll continue to support those methods. Romney said students not finding a job after graduation is not acceptable and "I'm gonna change that."
He added jobs have been to scarce in the last four years under Obama.
9:05: Obama said Epstein's future is bright. He said the most important thing to do is to create jobs, "good paying jobs," enough to support a family. He noted the improvements of the private sector. Plans by Obama includes support of manufacturing jobs not just in "Detroit but across the country," second, to have a great education system and provide financial aid to students, third is to control energy notably "energy of the future" such as solar, wind, and bio-fuels.
9:08: Crowley asks for "an immediate answer" to both candidates, starting with Romney.
9:08: Romney said Obama's policies have not put enough people to work. He noted the unemployment rate when he entered office is the same now at 7.8 percent.
Romney spoke on Obama's comments of Romney wanting the auto industry bankrupt, and instead said Obama made them bankrupt.
9:10: Obama said what Romney said isn't true. He added the US would've lost a million jobs if the auto industry wasn't saved. He said Romney doesn't have a five-point plan, but a one-point plan, which is to help the top earning income people.
9:11: Crowley tries to move onto a new topic but Romney wants to add a few words. Crowley moves to Phillip Tricolla for the next question about the Energy Department's role on lowering gas prices.
9:12: Obama said the most important thing is to ensure energy production. He said opening new areas for drilling is important, potentially 600,000 jobs could be provided for it. He added Romney's plan is to let the energy companies determine the policies.
9:14: Romney denounces Obama's policies and refers it as rhetoric. He noted oil production is down 14 percent in the US due to Obama's policies. Romney said he wants to use the available and renewable energy.
Romney added it's important to use current resources and eventually make North America energy independent.
9:16: Crowley asks Obama if the government can ease gas prices.
9:17: Obama said we've opened up drilling on public lands and encouraging natural gas. When Obama said he hears Romney said he's a supporter of coal energy, it is basically flip-flopping.
9:18: Romney said Obama has cut permits on drilling and energy. Obama and Romney briefly talk over each other. Romney said he doesn't believe what Obama has to offer when it comes to energy. Romney noted the price of gas going up in Nassau County and offering a pipeline from Canada and drilling in Alaska as alternatives.
9:21: Crowley reiterates the question to Obama.
9:21: Obama said gas prices were up to the economic crisis, supported by ideas Romney supported.
He said he wants to create an economy that is strong and one that produces energy. He said he's all for pipelines, and noted the US having enough pipelines to circle the globe.
9:22: Crowley moves onto the next question but Romney first responds to Obama by committing an aggressive gas policy if elected.
9:23: Crowley allows Mary Eileen Follano to ask a question on tax deductions and tax credits.
9:24: Romney said he wants Middle-income taxpayers to have lower taxes. He noted gas, healthcare, utility, and food prices have increased and such families need help combating that.
He said the top five percent earning a lot of money in the US will pay a 60 percent tax.
He said he's lowering taxes because under Obama they have been buried. He will not increase taxes onto the middle class, said Romney. He noted a study saying families will see a $4,000 increase in the upcoming years under Obama.
9:27: Obama's philosophy is to give the middle class "some relief." He said he has cut taxes by $3,600 for middle class families and more for private, small businesses.
Obama said in regards to the deficit, tough cuts must be made and the wealthy have to pay a little more.
He said Republicans have blocked such acts, otherwise he'd sign such an act right now.
Obama said Romney's policies wouldn't help the middle class.
9:30: Romney said the top class with pay 60 percent in taxes, while the middle class will see deductions in their taxes. He said such acts are for jobs. He said when interest rates are down, it helps small business and could have owners add more employers.
He said he knows how to make small business grow and thrive.
9:32: Obama said the cost of lowering rates for everyone, at 20 percent, which is what Romney wants, will save $5 trillion dollars, along with the Bush tax cuts and military costs will add up to the budget problems.
Obama said we haven't heard any specifics from Romney on his budget plan. He said the math doesn't add up. Obama said Romney's plan could blow up the deficit and people could lose their deductions.
9:35: Crowley gives Romney time to respond, asking if the numbers don't add up what will happen.
9:35: Romney said the numbers do add up. He noted his accomplishments in running the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and other ventures and Obama's $14 trillion deficit. He said the debt has increased by $6 trillion under Obama and he (Romney) knows how to balance the debt.
9:36: Crowley moves on to Katherine Fenton on women's inequalities in the job market.
9:37: Obama noted he was raised by a single mother, raising two kids, and how she made many sacrifices. He mentioned his grandmother working, despite no college education. Obama added one of the first thing he signs as president was the bill for women to have equal pay as men.
He said financial aid has helped women prepare for the job market and he does not tolerate discrimination.
9:39: Romney said he learned a great deal from his time as governor, that most men working for him were men. Romney said he then looked for women to work for him and resulted in more women in high serving roles in Massachusetts.
He said over three million women are now in the poverty level and he will work on giving women opportunities that they otherwise couldn't afford. Romney said the economy right now is not strong and said he'll have women find "good work."
9:42: Obama said Romney had no comment in regards to the Act he signed on women's equal pay. He added Romney is comfortable letting other decide on women's healthcare, such as contraceptives.
"Its not only a healthcare issue,...it's also an economic issue," said Obama.
Obama said Romney is not a good advocate for women. When it comes to childcare, Obama has provided credits. He said such issues are not only issues about women but about family.
9:44: Crowley lets Susan Katz ask the next question. Katz asked about the policies on the Bush administration and how Romney differs from Bush.
9:46: Romney first noted Obama's view on his contraceptive polices are wrong. Now, in response to Katz's question, Romney said he wants more trade agreements, a balanced budget which Bush didn't offer, and Bush added to the deficit which Obama has added onto.
He said he wants to keep taxes down on small businesses.
9:48: Obama said its important to know America faced a tough time after Bush. Under Obama, over 30-months of job growth has taken place. Obama said Romney's policies won't help the US. Obama said Romney is outsourcing jobs and "the last person" to be tough on China.
Obama added trade actions under him have saved thousands of jobs.
Obama noted differences between Romney and Bush such as Romney wanting a voucher system and contraceptive policies Bush didn't want. He said Romney is offering an extreme policy than Bush.
9:51: Michael Jones asked Obama on why he should vote for him after voting for him in 2008.
9:51: Obama said he's cut taxes, end the war on Iraq, focus attention on those that attacked the US on 9/11, healthcare reform, and education.
Obama said he's kept the promises he's made, and for the promises he's haven't delivered have been blocked by others.
Obama said people need a president who will have policies that will help families.
9:54: Romney said people cannot afford the first four years of Obama again. Romney goes through the promises Obama has not kept such as cutting the deficit in half and how Obamacare will add more to the deficit.
"The middle class is getting crushed...," said Romney. He said more people are in poverty and more are using food stamps.
Romney said Obama wants to do well but the policies have not led the company to take off and grow again.
Romney said the Reagan recession eventually created twice as many jobs Obama has created.
Romney said the president has tried but the policies have not worked.
9:58: Crowley has Lorraine Osorio to ask the question about immigration policy and those with green cards.
9:59: Romney answers first and noted his father was born in Mexico. He said he wants the policy in regards to immigration to be "streamlined."
He said he would not grant amnesty for those entering the US illegally. He said he won't offer drivers license either.
As for children born in the US from immigrants, Romney said he believes a pathway should be set for them to be citizens.
10:00: Obama said the US is a nation of immigrants, as stated by Romney. He said he has done everything he can on his own, and with Congress, to fix the immigration problem.
He said immigrants who follow the pathway to become citizen contribute to the US economy as many start private businesses.
Obama said targeting immigrants who are studying for a better future is wrong, instead, the target should be on "gangbangers."
Obama noted Romney would veto the DREAM Act. He added Romney would support self-deportation and that the Arizona law should be a model for the US.
10:04: Romney corrects Obama on the Arizona law on immigration. Romney said Obama said he'll file legislation during his first couple years on immigration but has failed on that.
On self-deportation, Romney said if the immigrants believe they are not finding the opportunities that hoped for, then they have the right to leave.
Romney noted Obama has pensions with China and Cayman trusts.
10:07: Obama said the Arizona policy won't help the US grow.
10:08: Crowley has Kerry Ladka ask the next question on Libya, on the State Department not providing extra security and who denied it.
10:09: Obama said diplomats serve around the world serving the people of the US. He said he gave three orders, to beef up security, investigate on what happened in Libya, and find out who was involved in the attacks that ultimately led to the death of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
Obama said Romney has turned the attacks on Libya as a political issue.
Obama noted his foreign policy successes such as ending the war in Iraq and the death of Obama bin Laden.
10:11: Romney said Kerry's question is an important one. He said other issues came from this event, such as if it was spontaneous or a terrorist attack. He said the American people have the right to know what happened on that day.
Romney said Obama continued to fundraise despite Ambassador Stevens' death.
10:14: Crowley noted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has taken the blame for the events, but does the buck stop there?
10:14: Obama said the event eventually does involve him. Obama noted he has dealt with Stevens' death and how he met with coffin with the ambassador in it.
10:15: Romney said Obama has stated the event was an act of terror 24 hours after the event, however continued to say a video caused the violence.
10:16: Nina Gonzalez asked about assault weapons.
10:17: Obama said he believes in the Second Amendment. He added that there has been "too many instances" in regards to gun violence, and met with those from the Aurora theatre shooting.
Obama believes the weaponry meant for war should not be on the streets. He said an assault weapons ban should be introduced.
10:20: Romney said he's not in favor of implementing a law limiting the right to own a gun. Assault weapons should be banned however, according to Romney.
Out of nowhere, he said a two-parent family helps make life better, then tying in how it would ease violence.
Romney mentions the Fast and Furious order under the Obama administration, which he believes the American people should know more about and why it led to thousands of guns going to Mexicans.
10:22: Romney said the pro and anti-guns people came together in Massachusetts to set a piece on legislation about assault weapons, and he's sure he can bring those two together again when in the White House.
10:24: Obama noted Romney once supported a type of gun ban but turned on it to get support from the NRA.
Obama said giving access to higher education will help reduce violence and ensure more jobs.
10:26: Carol Goldberg asked about outsourcing jobs.
10:26: Romney said a lot of jobs have been outsourced to China. He said companies have been turned off by US policies and therefore looked elsewhere.
Romney said he wants to make the US the most attractive place in the world for businesses.
He said other nations must play by the rules, and China hasn't. He said China has manipulated their currency, which resulted in loss of sales in the US.
Romney said on Day 1, he will call China out as a currency manipulator, and Obama has not.
Romney said what's key in bringing jobs to the US is bringing down the tax rates, which stands now at 35 percent, compared to 15 percent in Canada.
He said regulations have quadrupled under Obama, and Obamacare has stopped people from hiring.
10:30: Obama said the corporate tax rate is too high and has to be lowered. Obama said Romney plans to expand the reduced rate on businesses. He said the ways to create jobs is to double the exports and the US in on pace to achieve that.
10:32: Crowley mentions labor being cheaper in China, and asked how to convince companies to come back to the US.
10:32: Romney said if the playing field is leveled, then it is possible to compete.
10:33: Obama said some jobs will never come back because its low wage jobs, and he wants high wage jobs.
10:34: The last question comes from Barry Green, on what is the misconception the public has made about the candidates.
10:34: Romney said some campaigns rather attack the candidate than the policies. Romney said he cares for all Americans, and cares for the kids. He said he knows how it takes to help America get back on track due to his experience in business.
Romney said he has helped many, including having 100 percent of people in Massachusetts insured.
He said Americans don't have to settle with what they have now under Obama, with 23 million people looking for jobs.
10:36: Obama said he doesn't believe government creates job but rather self-reliance and risk-takers. He does believe everyone should have the same leveled ground to start on in order to move forward.
Obama said Romney's comments on 47 percent of Americans are victims are incorrect and wrong to say as many struggle to earn a living.
10:39: Crowley announces the debate is now over and thanks the viewers for watching. She added the third and final presidential will be next Monday, Oct. 22 at 9 p.m. EDT.
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